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    Dates From Hell
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    Dates From Hell
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    Dates From Hell
    Ebook448 pages6 hours

    Dates From Hell

    By Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Kelley Armstrong and Lori Handeland

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    She thought her date was out of this world.
    Actually, he was not of this world . . .

    We've all been on bad dates, nightmare dates, dreadful experiences that turned out to be uniquely memorable in the very worst way. But at least our partners for these detestable evenings were more or less . . . human!

    Now Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Kelley Armstrong, and Lori Handeland -- four of the very best writers currently exploring the dangerous seduction of the supernatural -- offer up dating disasters (and unexpected delights) of a completely different sort: dark, wicked, paranormally sensual assignations with werewolves, demon lovers, and the romantically challenged undead. Sexy, witty, chilling, and altogether remarkable, here is proof positive that some love matches are made someplace other than heaven.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateOct 13, 2009
    ISBN9780061741920
    Unavailable
    Dates From Hell
    Author

    Kim Harrison

    The only girl in a large family of boys, former tomboy Kim Harrison invented the first Brigadier General Barbie in self-defence. She shoots a very bad game of pool and rolls a very good game of dice. When not at her keyboard, she enjoys lounging on the couch with a bowl of popcorn watching action movies with The-Guy-In-The-Leather-Jacket. She plays her Ashiko drum when no one is listening, and is hard to find when the moon is new.

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    Reviews for Dates From Hell

    3.5/5

    418 ratings22 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I loved this book! So many good stories they pulled me in immediately. I rarely read anthologies but this one was well worth it! I highly recommend!
    • 4/5
      Kim Harrison - Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil
      Interesting. Ivy Tamwood before The Hollows series. I liked her in this story, more than I like her in the books. This makes me wonder if her decision to stop taking blood was a good one for her, and makes me think yet again that she and Rachel are bad for each other. I had instant hatred for Art (GRR) and it was great to see Kisten again, if only briefly.

      Lynsay Sands - The Claire Switch Project
      I generally avoid the whole "scientific accident leads to people with superpowers and then superbabies" genre. With good reason. In this story Claire got zapped by a something destabilizer and instead of having chameleon skin she can shapeshift. Turns out her body shifts into clothes, too, which leads to the ever-wacky "Claire shifts back into herself and is naked" plotline. Also, the reason Claire and Kyle aren't dating is because 12 years earlier her father asked him not to ask her out so she could grow or something and now they're still there waiting on each other? I'm not saying I hated it, but I won't be reading it again.

      Kelley Armstrong - Chaotic
      Hope meets Karl and I like him more here than I do in any of the following books or stories. Weird, that. The story didn't add anything to Hope or to the series that I needed to know. I read Personal Demon just fine without knowing this backstory and found nothing to be missing.

      Lori Handeland - Dead Man Dating
      This story caused me to seek out Lori Handeland's books today. Well, hello, Chavez, you rogue demon hunter, you. Yes, he knows about Wesley, he gets the joke, he doesn't think it's funny. There's also Samantha, the psychic, who lost her son in the World Trade Center bombing and willingly gave up her sight so she could See, and then there's Satan who kind of likes Chavez, at least in the way he likes to taunt him. This worked for me in so many ways: hot, humorous, and a little bit scary.
    • 3/5
      Short stories that round out a story arc I'm following. My current feeling about Kim Harrison is that she's not the top tier of paranormal romance/ mystery/ whatever, but she's solidly in the second tier and she's getting better.
    • 4/5
      Absolutely loved the Kelley Armstrong story about Karl and Hope's first meeting. Brilliant and it didn't completely overshadow the other stories either, one of the better anthologies I've read.
    • 3/5
      I read these anthologies strictly for filler between books. I usually only pick them up for a few select authors that happen to have a story inside.
    • 2/5
      This book looked promising, and I loved the smell of the book the former owner had left on it (I got it used, and it smelled of cigarettes and fruity perfume). Although it looked like it'd be good, and some of the book was good, I wasn't a fan of how erotic this book got, especially when it had been marked 'young adult.' The first story was me spending more time counting down pages until I was done than enjoying the tale. In fact, I was too confused to even appreciate what wasn't erotic, bloody sex/foreplay (undead vampires, live vampires, banshees?). The other stories were better, and the best was saved for last, but even then the tale was cut off too soon and still managed to have adult scenes. I was disappointed, to say the least.
    • 5/5
      The only story I've read is Kim Harrison's "Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil" and I rate it a 5*****. First, I have a bias. It's about Ivy, and she's my crush. Additionally, it ties in much more tightly with the novels than does "Two Ghosts for Sister Sarah" (the story on Rachel in Holidays Are Hell); it's much more a prequel to the main series. Eventually I might get around to reading the other three stories in this anthology.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book! So many good stories they pulled me in immediately. I rarely read anthologies but this one was well worth it! I highly recommend!
    • 2/5
       This entire book was a waste of time. None of the stories were particularly interesting. No, not even Kim Harrison's.
    • 4/5
      Overall I really enjoyed this anthology. All of the stories were entertaining. My two favorites were Kim Harrison's story about Ivy and Lori Handeland's "Dead Man Dating". My least favorite story was Kelley Armstrong's "Chaotic".-Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil by Kim HarrisonThis story was about Ivy when she was dating Kisten; Mia (the banshee from "White Witch, Black Curse" is involved as well). This story helped explain some of the back story between Ivy and Mia, as well as gave nice incite into Kisten and Ivy's history. It was an engaging story and I enjoyed it; overall (4/5 stars).-The Claire Switch Project by Lynsay SandsThis was a cute story about a girl who gets zapped by a molecular destabilizer and finds she can change shape. I liked how it was written; it was cute and funny. I have found that I like Lynsay Sands writing style, it is usually pretty funny and makes for a fun, quick read. (4/5 stars)-Chaotic by Kelley ArmstrongThis story was about a half demon girl drawn to chaos who finds other paranormals breaking the law. It was an okay story, but my least favorite of the bunch. I didn't like the female lead that much and I thought that the male werewolf lead was also a weak character. The idea of being drawn to chaos was neat, but I just couldn't get into the story. (3/5 stars)-Dead Man Dating by Lori HandelandThis one was a pretty darn good story. It is about a woman who is using an online dating service and accidentally hooks up with a demon. The heroine was a little flighty and weak for my taste, but there was a lot of action and it was an interesting premise. The story could be a nice set up for a series; maybe we will see more of the main characters as they take on demons all over the world in another book.
    • 3/5
      Paranormal Romance. Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison- living vampire trying to get around her partner. I'm not entirely sure if I like the way sex is used in this story. But, Ivy is a strong female character who is smart and beautiful, and uses that to get ahead in her world.The Claire Switch Project - Lyndsay Sands. A poorly written story with science that doesn't make sense, a stupid girl who only wants to do the head scientist, and a horrible plan that I'm fairly sure I've seen in every Saturday morning cartoon (without the kinkiness). Also, the star the lead character turns into, Brad Cruise, is just wrong. The author could have at least attempted to give the star a new original name. Horrible, terrible, derivative story.Chaotic - Kelly Armstrong. The best one out of this collection. Its well written, with a lead character that is quite resourceful. I really enjoyed this story, and how Hope meets Karl.Dead Man Dating - Lori Handeland. The story is cute, but making the lead lady a rather frumpy book lover is rather clichéd, and after the announcement that Armageddon is coming, Kit only thinks about her lost virginity.
    • 3/5
      Undead in the Garden is about vamps (Ivy) and I got bored with it & didn’t finish. Claire Switch was a little too cutesy in the love relationship. Armstrong’s Chaotic was awesome, and involved a chaos demon and Karl, the werewolf that isn’t quite a member of the Pack. Handeland’s story was ooookay, but the love was a little too overdramatic…
    • 2/5
      This is great because it has Laurell K. Hamilton and Kim Harrison both!!!

      NICE
    • 3/5
      This was a book of four different stand alone short stories by four popular female paranormal writers. I really had problems getting into the first story by Kim Harrison. It was about vampires and a particular group of characters that might be contained in her books, they just weren't well established here. They seemed to have a tremendous back-story it just wasn't presented in this story. The second story by Lynsay Sands, I couldn't read, I tried but when they talked about strapping down the bunny for test purposes I couldn't continue. Even though, I don't believe that they actually harmed or did anything to the animal, I couldn't get over the mental block. The third story was by Kelly Armstrong, I enjoyed it, I have read all of her other books and this was just as enjoyable as those were, this story was about Hope the chaos demon and Karl the Jewel thief. The final story by Lori Handeland was easy reading and fun, it dealt with demons who were taking over corpses to date. Not a lot of depth and some parts of it I found to be laughable.
    • 3/5
      as with any collection of short stories, espeically from different authors, I loved some, others, not so much. The Kim Harrison and Kelley Armstrong stories delivered everything i ha ve come to expect from their full books and I loved them.
    • 4/5
      A mixed bunch of stories. The first is a story of Ivy Tamwood before she meets with Rachel. The vampire politics didn't make my day and I really wanted to slap several of the characters until they left silly behind. Ivy is trying to solve a murder while also trying to stop her boss from using her for blood and sex. Honestly vampires would have died out a long time ago if some of what was going on here was typical of the species. Oooh the angst. BAH. 3/5 just about.Lynsay Sands had an interesting idea and then went pretty much nowhere with hers. An experiment that starts on animals ends up giving a woman the power to shapeshift. She decides to help a friend get revenge at a reunion. Another 3/5 and I was now starting to despair of the stories.Then Kelley Armstrong came to the rescue with the story of a half-demon tabloid reporter working undercover for the good guys, on a date with yet another one of her mother's prizewinning blind dates bumps into a werewolf jewel thief. This was a fun read, complete in itself yet leaving hints that there could be more. I'd like to meet the two main characters again in a story. 4/5Lori Handeland's Dead Man Dating was another quite good story, lagging a bit occasionally and suffering badly with the Armstrong but well against the other two. Hers is a Manhattan Literary agent is rescued on her date by a demon hunter, to find that the demon may have disappeared but he isn't dead. And he does want her. A fun, light read. 3.5/5Nothing I'd really add to my collection but the Kelley Armstrong was worth the price of admission.
    • 4/5
      The last two stories in this anthology really made this book. Though I like Kim Harrison's writing, her first published short story included here was kind of dry, though Kelley Armstrong's story really rocked. I've included individual reviews for each story below.Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil by Kim HarrisonRead 08-Jun – 09-Jun-2006This is Ivy's story, before she meets Rachel and Jenks and starts Vampiric Charms. We learn a lot more about what makes Ivy tick, and how she comes to her decision to live blood-free as a living vampire. I don't think I enjoyed it quite as much as the full-length novels because I missed having Rachel and Jenks too, but still, I appreciate this story for what it is... a deeper look into Ivy's life pre-Rachel. :)Rating: 6 starsThe Claire Switch Project by Lynsay SandsRead 06-Feb-2007Ugh, I should've known I wasn't going to like this one right from the first paragraph. The first sentence actually proclaimed, "A bunny," and I thought yay!! But then it turns out two of the main characters, Kyle and Claire, are running doing experiments and testing on the poor little bunny. And oh boy, I've got a wicked rant I can go on about animal testing, but since it's not really relevant to this review, sufficed to say that it's a wicked peeve of mine that hits a deep nerve.From there, we just have more cutesy, stupid characters who think nothing of hiding the truth from their friends and people they care about. Another pet peeve, one I can usually live with, but when a huge premise of the story is based upon such deception and lying, it angers me even more!I wonder why I kept on reading then... well, it was a short story and I was determined to finish it. And I did laugh at one or two parts. Had I not already read a full-length novel by this author, Single White Vampire, which I fairly enjoyed, I'd probably think twice about reading anything from this author if I were to base it only on this short story. I give it a few points not for the story, but because the author herself is a halfway decent writer, and that at least does come across here.Rating: 4 starsChaotic by Kelley ArmstrongRead 18-Feb – 19-Feb-2007Hope is a tabloid reporter and "supposed agent" for the Interracial Council. As a Half-Demon, she's got skills that enable her detect chaotic events, past or present. While attending a museum gala, she meets up with charming werewolf and jewel thief, Karl Marsten, whom we've met in previous novels. And chaos rules!!This was an excellent story! Kelley really knows how to write a short story and make it as action-packed and exciting as her full-length novels. In this novella, we're introduced to a new character, Hope, a half-demon journalist, whom I'm hoping will appear again in future books or novellas. Since Karl Marsten seems to be romantically interested in her, this may be a good possibility.Rating: 9 starsDead Man Dating by Lori HandelandRead 23-Feb-2007Kit has been saving herself for marriage and true love, so what could be better than a dating agency named, remarkably, TrueLove.com. Little did she realize that her "date" would actually be a demon from hell, and that her "knight in shining armor" would appear to save her mortal soul?Kit is startled when the rogue demon hunter Chavez manages to extinguish her date in the alley right before her very eyes. But it turns out he's not really dead—or is already dead, I should say—and the demon, part incubus and part Rakshasas, continues to stalk her and attempt to seduce her. For only her virginity can save him. And finding a virgin in this day and age is so rare!With the help of Chavez, they're able to exploit the demon's weakness and bring about his destruction. But as they're told by Satan himself, the end of the world is near, and these new demons that he's made and unleased on the world are here to bring about Armageddon. The story leaves off here, as Kit and Chavez have decided to work together, brain and brawn so to speak, to defeat this evil before it's too late. This story was actually quite good. I hadn't yet read anything else by Handeland, though I've got the first 6 books of her Nightcreature series here waiting for me to find the right time to start on them. So now that I've whet my appetite with this short story, I'm quite looking forward to them.Rating: 8 stars
    • 4/5
      A mix of stories from different authors. All dealing with the unusual - Ivy before she meets Rachel from KH, a "weird science" story from LS, a half-demon and a werewolf and a sorceror from KA and demon hunting from LH.Fun, but like a lot of short stories, a bit unsatisfying in my opinion. They get started, then they get over... The two from authors I know I'd happily have read whole novels. Lori Handeland's is rather more clearly a short story, but fun, will look for more of her stuff. Lynsay Sands's story seems to be out of character for what she's famous for writing, but still worked well enough I'll buy one if I see it.
    • 2/5
      People say football is a game of two halves - and this is certainly a book of 4 quarters!I have to say the only story I enjoyed in this book was the one by Kelley Armstrong. I found the other 3 too predictable and didn't enjoy them one bit.Thank God for Kelley Armstrong then! Her story, "Chaotic", isn't just the best of a bad bunch, it is truly a great story - and adds another layer to some characters we have already met, as well as whetting our appentite with some fascinating new ones.This is a book you would be better borrowing than buying in my opinion as "Chaotic" is the ONLY saving grace
    • 3/5
      Fantasy Stories all themed around dates I bought this for The Kim Harrison and the Kelley Armstrong. both good little stories from their usual Milleu The Kim Harrison Novella was the best Ivy Tamwood the vampires stars in this prequel?Will she be manouvered into screwing her boss? What is the difference between Blood Sex and Love when you are a vampire?Hmm Blood Sex and Love what a great book title.
    • 4/5
      A compilation of apparently "popular" authors, this book seems like a let down... because the first story is atrociously bad. Actually, let me rephrase that, it is not atrociously bad... It just drags on forever, which doesn't seem to be possible because it's supposed to be a short story. However, apparently whoever put together this book put the stories from worse to best. The last story makes up for the lag of the first.
    • 2/5
      The best story in the collection was Armstrong's, it was set in the same world as her Women of the Otherworld series, but used only a minor character from those books.I'm a big fan of Harrison, but her story felt awkward. It's backstory from her series, but I felt that it muddled the character of Ivy and made her less interesting. Ivy was better for me as more of a mystery, and I could have done without the Ivy/Kisten relationship detail. In the books, they have almost a sibling relationship, so I didn't enjoy reading about them making out.I didn't like the other two stories at all. One was a cheesy shapeshifting story (by Sands) that was heavy on the romance but pathetic on the paranormal. The Handeland story was about a demon hunter and a woman he tries to protect. It wasn't awful, but doesn't make me interested in reading more by her.